CULTURAL HERITAGE IN SOUTH OSTRO- BOTHNIA Heritage is a living cultural resource FINCH in brief Cultural heritage in South Ostrobothnia is genres from folk rock to tango and opera, FINCH (Financing impact on regional illustrative of Western Finnish ways of life with modern architecture and art. Through FINCH development of cultural heritage twists that make the region’s cultural heritage we at Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia valorisation), a project of the Interreg distinctive. The two-storey red log farmhouses wish to cast brighter light on how to cherish Europe programme, promotes the and the rich variety of folk dresses with and invigorate our tangible and intangible sustainable adoption of alternative accessories, such as the decorated knives, riches that South Ostrobothnian heritage funding structures within the cultural manifest the long traditions of rural life and holds! heritage sphere. The project supports the manifold craft skills. Feel warmly welcome to the expanses of the implementation of light financial But South Ostrobothnian heritage is more South Ostrobothnia! instruments targeted to private actors than this. It includes modern layers of heritage and public-private partnerships. The Eliza Kraatari and modernised customs that are parts of objective is to encourage local and FINCH Project Coordinator everyday life and festivities. Of these exemplify Regional Council of regional actors and decisionmakers old factory environments refurbished for South Ostrobothnia to move towards meaningful cultural cultural activities, the diversity of musical heritage policies. Investments in cultural heritage have a direct impact on growth and hold considerable potential for creating activities and job opportunities that spur long-term social and economic benefits. South Ostrobothnia – wide perspectives to the future

Located in Western Finland, South solutions both in the food sector and bio- business culture. Ostrobothnia (in Finnish: Etelä-Pohjanmaa) economy. The tech industry in the region, The regional centre of South Ostrobothnia is sets a stage of natural beauty for living out technologically advanced and internationally Seinäjoki, home for ca. 62,000 inhabitants. The South Ostrobothnian identities of different oriented, is a growing sector and the wood excellent connections make the region easily kinds. The region is renowned for its wide product and construction businesses have a accessible both for tourists and commuters. lowlands stretching to horizon and the strong foothold in the area. It takes only 3 hours by train from the capital shimmering rivers winding through the lush South Ostrobothnia is often characterized as city Helsinki and the nearby Vaasa airport countryside dotted with villages and towns. an exceptionally entrepreneurial province and offers connections also to Stockholm. With its expanses of farmland, South holds a high number of SMEs. Communication Ostrobothnia is known as the Food Province between development actors and companies of Finland. The region actively heads to find is well rooted and appreciated in the region’s Ostrobothnian Farmhouse – heritage of sustainable housing The Ostrobothnian house is an icon of houses were often built in decorative style, South Ostrobothnian culture. Thinking of the details had functions in, for example, this traditional house one typically pictures a channelling rain away from the wooden Swedish red (‘punamulta’) half- or two-storey structure. Built of logs, it was possible to log house with white corners and decorative enlarge a house, according to need, in width window trims. and height, but they can also be disassembled, Building this type of house became popular moved and rebuilt. The idea of expediency was in the 18th century. Typical to these large omnipresent also in the interior with the bunk peasant houses was the spacious kitchen- beds, cupboards and necessary tools such as living room (‘tupa’) with the combined the spinning wheel and the loom in the ‘tupa’. fireplace/stove/baking oven. Often the large The Ostrobothnian house is appreciated house was a home for an extended family of also today. Some are dedicated to restoring three generations, or more. an inherited house or buy an old house to to health reasons while others appreciate tumultuous world. The bilingual association The traditional Ostrobothnian house is this end. Public bodies, such as The Finnish the traditional aesthetics of the wooden, red for cherishing Ostrobothnian built heritage, exemplary of sustainable building and highly- Heritage Agency and the Centres for Economic house with white corners even if the structure Pohjalainen rakennusperintö ry / Österbottens skilled joinery that had developed in the area Development, Transport and the Environment, would not always be of the traditional kind. byggnadsvård rf, was established through trades of ship and church building. subsidise the restoring work. Some appreciate Keeping to this tradition can help in in 2013. Although the trims and the porches of the the way of living in a traditional log house due finding sense of cultural continuity in the Cultural environment work in Ähtäri The City of Ähtäri has been actively working Companies and individuals can choose to on their cultural environment and heritage act as the godparent for Hiironen’s sculpture programme, ‘Waterways to the villages and ‘Upstream waters’. A duty that lasts for one the church’, for ten years. Several localities in year, the godparent is responsible for the Ähtäri are classified as ‘nationally significant keeping costs of the sculpture. In return, the built cultural environments’ and include for godparent is prized with local media visibility example the ironworks community and railway and cultural rewards. station in the Inha village, the old cardboard In addition to this, interest in archaeological factory in Vääräkoski and the Ähtäri Church relic areas is increasing. In 2019, the City of surroundings. Ähtäri, together with the National Museum In 2015, a culture trail, consisting of 19 points of Finland, will implement a participatory of interest, was opened in the old downtown project aimed at high school students, who area. Soon after, ‘The Water Trail’ was are introduced to archaeology through actual established to introduce visitors and locals excavations. with the works of art created by the sculptor, The cultural environment programme was professor Eero Hiironen (1938–2018). For completed by the Cultural Environment the maintenance of one of these sculptures, Working Group consisting of representatives the Ähtäri-Seura, local heritage association, from the City of Ähtäri, villages, companies as launched the practice of ‘godparenting’ art. well as the regional council and museum. contest for the titles of the Tango King and Tango in South the Tango Queen. This annual ‘coronation ceremony’ engages the attention of hundreds of thousands of people (up to 1,5 million by Ostrobothnia television and radios). For over a century ago, international musical An important part of Finnish popular culture, influences met the characteristically Finnish Finnish tango welcomes all ages. Tango is mentality of yearning and as a result, Finnish popular at dance houses and pavilions, where tango culture was born. It has since found dance orchestras and singers perform. Tango a solid basis in South Ostrobothnia. Every Kings and Queens are audience attractors summer from 1985 onwards, Seinäjoki has and karaoke lounges give the opportunity for unveiled itself as the Finnish tango capital and anyone to let his/her inner Olavi Virta/Annikki staged the Tangomarkkinat Festival, organised Tähti shine through. The association promoting by Seinäjoen Tangomarkkinat Oy. People from Finnish tango culture, Suomalaisen tangon all over the world travel to Seinäjoki to share Satumaa ry, organises singing competitions the exceptional feel and passion that Finns for children and the young and even senior have for tango. A connection between the two singers have their own contest. tango cities, Seinäjoki and Buenos Aires, has Finnish tango has been listed on Finland’s been created. National List of Intangible Heritage and the Finnish tango brings together orchestral Satumaa ry for one works for including Finnish music, singing and dancing, composing new tango to the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Finnish tangos and, all in all, a way of being. Heritage list. The paramount is the Tangomarkkinat singing Kalevan navetta – the new art centre in Seinäjoki

The old Kalevan navetta (‘Kaleva’s barn’) in Cultural Services of the City of Seinäjoki and Seinäjoki is being renovated to meet the needs funded through the LEADER programme. The of the new millennium. The barn was built at operational mode of the art centre is created the initiative of life insurance company Kaleva’s in a user-oriented manner together with the agronomist Karl Fredrik Edlund in the 1890s. new house residents, the free art field and Protected today in the city plan as a historical citizens. building, it never housed cattle, but instead The art centre Kalevan navetta, which will served for decades as the Defence Forces’ open in 2020, will host various cultural actors, warehouse. such as Seinäjoki Art Hall and Seinäjoki City The building is located near Seinäjoki city Cultural Office, Regional Crafts Association centre and holds space of 5000 square meters Taito Etelä-Pohjanmaa ry, Restaurant Onnen on three floors. The massive restauration Juurella, Sibelius Academy of the University work is carried out by the building’s owner, of the Arts Helsinki / Seinäjoki Unit as well as Petri Pihlajaniemi, who has specialised in Seinäjoki Civic Institute and Children’s Culture saving historical buildings. The development Centre Louhimo. project of the Kalevan navetta is driven by the Culture and Business Vanha Paukku (‘The Old Bang’) is a previous red brick Places to visit in South Ostrobothnia Centre Vanha Paukku factory turned into a cultural and business centre. The in Lapua name takes after the initial 3 4 use of the buildings as the 1923 established State Cartridge Factory (later taken 2 over by Nammo Lapua). The redevelopment of the factory area was planned by architect 1 Helena Teräväinen. Since 1998, the factory area 5 6 has housed, among other things, a public library and an adult education centre, a music conservatory and the Lapua art museum. Vanha Paukku offers a community living room and possibilities to experience local culture 1 Kalevan navetta (Seinäjoki) 4 Lappajärvi Crater Lake (Lappajärvi) and art. 2 Vanha Paukku (Lapua) 5 Tuuri Shopping Village (Alavus) 3 PowerPark (Kauhava) 6 Ähtäri Zoo & Culture Trails (Ähtäri) Tuija Ahola, Photos WebGarden Oy 2019

The Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia is a development authority of the Layout 17 member municipalities in the region. Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia promotes the creation of a competitive and co-operative region known for its high-level education, know-how, welfare and entrepreneurship.

Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia P.O. Box 109, 60101 Seinäjoki, Finland (Kampusranta 9 C, Frami, 4th floor) www.epliitto.fi Eliza Kraatari, Annika Pollari Text Annika Pollari, Jukka Risikko, City of Seinäjoki, Ähtäri, Seinäjoen Tangomarkkinat Oy